Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-02-03

article to the first issue of the Stand
ard, Henry Georges paper):
The present condition of land tenure
in California forms dark chapter, fOr
land monopoly is the one great draw
back OF our Golden state. 1t il p,c,,-
liarly sad that II land so supremely
blessed by the Creator should be-
blighted and cursed by an institution
fostered by laws of popular enactment
We have a population Of about one
million inhabitants, an arsse Of more
than one hundred million acres, one
half Of which is the private property y
of five hundred men, according to the
statement of Mr.. Stephen Gage, prcsi-
dent of the Southern Pacific Railroad
company, whose facilities for obtain
ing exact information upon the sub
ject are good, and at least a., trust
worthy as any in the State.
Of these lands large tracts are held
by the railroad companies for sI,ecu-
lative purposes. They are kept free
from taxation 10y allowing the appar-
ent title to remain in the federal gov
ernment until sales are effected upon
satisfactory terms, bonds being then
given for deeds.
Patents are procured only for such
lands as have been sold, and in the
hands of the occupying owners they
first become subject to taxation.
OF private landlords. one firm of
cattle dealers miller Il LAX own more
than II million acres, most Of which is
arabic, and all OF which il very valu-
able. They use it for pasture, paying
nominal taxes, hoping soon to realize
fabulous wealth by selling or leasing
to the people, for whom it wascrcate,l,
the privilege of making homes upon it
1t is said that this firm can drive "a
herd Of cattle from Fort Yuma to
san Francisco tabOut 600 miles,
camping every night on their own land.
However that may he, it is certain
that hundreds of American families
have searched over the same routes
through millions of acres of unfcnred
and uncultivated farming land with
out being able tn secure u place large
enough for Il modest home, except by
mOrtsaging their lives to some human
vampire for the privilege.
\ few weeks ago ] had occasion to
hold court in san lAlis Obispo county
and returning, passed through the
beautiful Santa Margiirita rancho. n
magnificent valley, containing 1000
acres of the finest, deepest richest and
best watcred soil on the f;ue Of the
earth. II is the private property of
one man. 1t is capable of support
ing in comfort 1000 families at least i.
1t is now IA cattle range. There is one
farmhouse upon it and one stage
IT.. N'l.tt.. 4 ,..,-.I.,,,. s,,,o,,,l, l.;
great wealth OF natural resources we
met four emigrant families looking for
homes. The women, brave specimens
of ''the noble mothers nj the west.
We're wcrn and haagard and sick ut
heart from hope deferred; the children
were banfOttcd. sunDurnt and ragged.
They were searching for land Tie
best land in the world was living all
around them unused, waiting for till
age. But human laws had deprived
them OF their natural, God-given right
to use it. Foot sore, veal, and des-
pairing. they were compelled to travel
on, doubt less finding everywhere that
speculator with superior facilities had
preceded them.
Leaving the Santa Mars1rita we
Travelled through a succession of rich
and fert lie valleys. varying in width
from three to thirty mles for dis
tance of seventy miles. all oi which.
except "a few hundred acres, iS the
private property of seven spectators.
Who have not even fenced hall Of it.
while families who would gladly make
true American homes on enty-i,c,e
tracts of the valley land. are -crnniI.
ling and even fighting for the po>st,-
sion of steep and ro' Ky ridges in lar
hes, eligible place. in the same vicinity.
These are but examples, and mod
crate examples, of the infamous con
lition~ existin. ions wf,h-i.
have forced upon us. with u pouIation
of only one million inhabitants. all
the horrors oi over-poptria,ion, while
Italy. ior example, with only II little
more than two-thirds al the acreage
of our state, supports thirty millions
of people.
Men like the emigrai.:s of whom |
have spoken, forced i'm their helpless
despair to abandon their families.
have driitea on upon the roads in
-earrh nj work. Spirinh. rshuke'i.
hIii"fed. they have finally abandoned
i;ouc and silk slowly, hut surely. int"